OoTD No. 28 – Winter dressing, summer style

Though I love summer in Sydney, I am growing more appreciative of the cooler months. The air is fresh, my kitchen smells of roasts and stews and apple crumble, and I can wear something more substantial than thin cotton tops and double pluggers.

And it is starting to get quite wintery in Sydney, but that’s no reason to stop blinding people with summer-style colour.

My dear apple bag has been quite neglected of late, but after seeing Jackie’s amazing collection of bags that look like other things on Show Tell Share, I was inspired to dust it off.

I’m lightly obsessed with these ridiculous shirts. They were made by Mambo in the ’90s (before they decided to reinvent themselves as just another beige surf brand) in a bunch of iconic designs. The ones by Reg Mombassa – like this one – are just so wonderfully Australian. I’ve tracked down quite a few on ebay, and despite the shirts being something a middle aged man would wear to a barbecue, I love them dearly. They’re a summer staple, but when my wardrobe was particularly empty and my laundry pile was particularly big, I decided to winterise them with a natty bow tie and v-neck jumper.

I recently saw a re-run of Spicks and Specks, and Reg Mombassa was on the panel. He said he goes up to people in the street wearing those shirts and congratulates them on having the guts to wear them (he said he wouldn’t)! So you’ve officially got guts, Reg says so!

Oh man, I would DIE if Reg Mombassa came up to me and said that. I went to the opening of one of his art exhibitions and he was there, but instead of talking to him like a normal person I just creeped around staring at him. Because I’m cool like that.

I loved those shirts! I never found one to fit my hips, though, so I just bought them for my brother, who wears them around London to this day. He gets lots of compliments! And he’s a computer programmer, so he wears them to work 3 days a week, too – the other days have suit-wearing meetings.

Oh Frances, NOW I know why I can never get my hands on a Mombassa-Mambo shirt – it’s that you got them all!! (Yeah, plus all the middle-aged men. But. Whatever.) *SUPER-DOOPER* snaps on the whole look, and please keep showing the collection: I love them! I only have a wee little singlet, but now I’ll get mine out for an outfit too – how fun!

And next time I’m eyeing one on eBay I’ll let you know: I *hate* the thought of competing with mates for great Aussie shit like this… xo